The members are almost always volunteers, family men and women who just want to protect their children, families, and neighborhoods from social elements that prey on the weak and vulnerable.
They watch and report things out of the ordinary in their local areas, their vigilance often stops or discourages crime simply by being visible and vocal.
But this same innocuous organization of local citizens has been hijacked by governments and used against the very people it was supposed to protect.
Throughout history, tyrannical, totalitarian regimes such as, East Germany, the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Communist China, Cuba, Yugoslavia, and many others have often created local social networks of spies and informants comprised of citizens, to keep an eye on and report any suspicious behavior of their own friends and neighbors. This leads to an environment of mistrust and insecurity.My own sister-in-law grew up in East Germany and relates that she had an uncle that was a known local neighborhood informant. At family gatherings when he arrived, the family all switched their conversations to the weather, fearful that any spoken comments deemed contrary to the Communist government might be reported and lead to arrest and incarceration.
This month, the Obama administration may have launched such a program. The administration claims this program was created to protect us from terrorist activities…but that is the same story told over and over again in the annals of history.
Organizations that come into being spontaneously from concerned citizens and that do no harm, but interfere with the free reign of crime are one thing. Government sponsored organizations and trainings designed to pit citizen against citizen to create an “atmosphere of terror,” is something altogether different and harmful.
Which of these is this new government strategy?….Decide for yourself…….
By Mary Bruce
Dec 8, 2011 5:35pm
The White House today unveiled a new strategy to battle homegrown terrorism by fostering coordination between local authorities and teaching officials to better recognize violent extremism.
“Protecting our nation’s communities from violent extremist recruitment and radicalization is a top national security priority. It is an effort that requires creativity, diligence and commitment to our fundamental rights and principles,” read a report entitled, “Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States.
Al-Qaeda Flag
“What we have to do is be prepared for these different types of approaches that al Qaeda is pursuing,” Obama’s chief counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, told NPR.
“The large attacks, the small attacks, the groups that are operating together and the individuals who may be vulnerable to these types of entreaties.”
The plan outlined enhanced coordination between local partners – including schools and community groups – and federal law enforcement, and sought to empower communities by teaching local officials to recognize violent extremism.
“Just as we engage and raise awareness to prevent gang violence, sexual offenses, school shootings and other acts of violence, so too must we ensure that our communities are empowered to recognize threats of violent extremism and understand the range of government and nongovernment resources that can help keep their families, friends and neighbors safe,” the report said.
One last thought.
James Madison, fourth president of the United States and “Father of the U.S. Constitution” said thatOf all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people.The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals engendered by both.No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
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